The Scent of Your Breath

April 3, 2006
A breathless autobiographical second novel by this bright young Sicilian writer (100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed
) explores a young woman's riveting, cataclysmic conflict between maternity and romantic passion. The 19-year-old protagonist, an author and recognizable media personality, leaves her self-absorbed boyfriend, Claudio, for a feminine young man she loves helplessly. The "you" she addresses in this first-person narrative is not the lover, Thomas, however, but her mother, who acts as the author's emotional guardian and nemesis. Her narrative jumps erratically from tender scenes with Thomas ("He imprisoned my breath in a glass jar, and sniffs it every time he makes love to me") to formative memories of growing up part of her mother's clan in Catania. A miscarriage adds to her "orgy of feelings," and the narrative becomes increasingly hallucinatory as her grief over losing the baby deepens, and jealousy for Thomas grips her in a kind of frenzy. The narrative forms a current of pure feeling, fearless and thrilling.

July 17, 2006
A breathless autobiographical second novel by this bright young Sicilian writer (100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed ) explores a young woman's riveting, cataclysmic conflict between maternity and romantic passion. The 19-year-old protagonist, an author and recognizable media personality, leaves her self-absorbed boyfriend, Claudio, for a feminine young man she loves helplessly. The "you" she addresses in this first-person narrative is not the lover, Thomas, however, but her mother, who acts as the author's emotional guardian and nemesis. Her narrative jumps erratically from tender scenes with Thomas ("He imprisoned my breath in a glass jar, and sniffs it every time he makes love to me") to formative memories of growing up part of her mother's clan in Catania. A miscarriage adds to her "orgy of feelings," and the narrative becomes increasingly hallucinatory as her grief over losing the baby deepens, and jealousy for Thomas grips her in a kind of frenzy. The narrative forms a current of pure feeling, fearless and thrilling.

June 1, 2006
Once upon a time, a woman went mad. Readers expecting anything other than that will be disappointed by Melissa P. -s brooding, savage sequel to "100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed". However, fans of experimental narrative technique will be fascinated by this fictionalized account of the author -s descent into insanity as the princess life she imagined for herself slowly crumbles. Melissa -s latest lover, Thomas, shares her newfound fame and brings her moments of comfort and pleasure. However, Thomas -s casual friendship with Viola, a pet-store clerk, prompts doubts about his fidelity that gradually lead to hallucinations and paranoia. Addressed primarily to Melissa -s mother, the short, disjointed chapters lurch between interior monolog and exterior action, successfully mirroring the narrator -s confused mindset. Despite its excellent technique, however, the novella suffers from flat characterization; Thomas and Viola exist solely to highlight the narrator -s suffering, and those who have not read Melissa -s first novel may have a difficult time understanding why they should care about Melissa, tragic protagonist though she may be. Recommended for libraries where "100 Strokes" is popular. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ "4/15/06.]" -Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh"

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